Gallery owner and consultant Dora Valdés-Faulí,, a longtime supporter of the arts in Miami, is taking on the role of director of arteaméricas, the largest Latin American art fair in the country. The fair runs March 26-29 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

After participating in the fair since its inception seven years ago, Ms. Valdés-Faulí, is taking the reins. In her new role, she says she has been working to attract new galleries to this year’s fair.

Her efforts are paying off as several new galleries are joining, which is to help fill the void of others unable to participate because of the economic downturn.

The fair, which is to lure more than 15,000 art aficionados, is to feature the works of artists from countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Spain.

"In addition to what the galleries bring to show, we have a series of lectures, roundtable discussions called Art Talk Conversations and I think that that’s going to be a very, very important part of our intellectual offering," she said.

This year, arteaméricas is also pitching in to help earthquake-devastated Haiti by displaying an exhibition exclusively of Haitian artwork, with all sales proceeds going to fund struggling Haitian artists. "We’re very excited about this because we all want to help, as everyone in our world does at the moment," she said.

Ms. Valdés-Faulí, discussed plans for this year’s arteaméricas with Miami Today reporter Yudislaidy Fernandez at the fair’s offices in Miami. To read this profile article in its entirety, subscribe to Miami Today’s E-paper. With the E-paper you will be able to read the entire contents of Miami Today online exactly as it appears in print. Or order this issue, to receive a regular printed copy of this week’s Miami Today. You may also subscribe to the printed edition of Miami Today to receive the newspaper every week by mail.